Wire link fabric.



G. H. FREDERICK.

WIRE LINK FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, 1912.

Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE H. FREDERICK, OF KENOSHA, WISCONSIN.

WIRE LINK FABRIC.

nearest.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CLARENCE H. Finn)- nnrcn, citizen of the United States, residing at Kenosha, in the county of Kenosha and State of lVisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful. Improvement in Wire Link Fabric, of which the following is a full, clear. concise, and exact description reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to metal fabric that is comprised of assembled units formed of wire and has for its general object the simplification of the construction of such fabric and the provision of a construction whereby the weight may be reduced.

The fabric of my invention is of service in the construct-ion of furniture and finds a useful embodiment in mattresses or mattress supports. Such fabric is largely used in the construction of couches. The fabric of my invention is of such a nature that the tensile strength of the wire entering into its formation is not impaired.

As I have preferably embodied my invention the fabric includes a plurality of adj acent rows of adjacent units, adjacent units in each. row having common sides whereby there are formed a plurality of closed figures in each row. As the invention is practised, each unit of the fabric is of U-shape, the bases of the U-shaped units constituting the aforesaid common sides, these bases being engaged by the free ends of adjacent units to constitute the fabric.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawing showing the preferred embodiment thereof and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of the fabric; Fig. 2 is a side view of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the wire units; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line of Fig. 1.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different figures.

Each unit of the fabric is of U-shape. such unit including a base portion 1 and side portions 2. The free ends of the side portions 2 are curled to form eves 3. The corners at the adjoining ends of the base and side members of each unit are bulged out wardly at 4 to constitute holding places for the eyes 3 and for the fastening bands 5 which are shown as being in the form of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 28, 1912.

Patented Jan. 28,1913.

Serial No. 686,974.

sheet metal but I do not wish to limit myself to the use of sheet metal in the formation of the fastening bands. In mounting the fabric the units at one end are engaged by the eyes 6 formed at the ends ofloops 7, the bights of the loops 7 being engaged by the inner ends of coiled springs 8, the outer ends of said coiled springs being engaged with a rail 9 of the frame which is to support the fabric. At the other end of the fabric the springs 8 are passed directly through the eyes of the contiguous side members 2, the loops 7 being omitted.

The method of mounting the fabric shown and described is preferred but I do not wish to limit myself to the way in which the fabric is mounted as the fabric mounting constitutes no essential part of my present in vention.

In assembling the units of the fabric, the eyes 3 at the outer ends of the side members 2 of the units in each row are caused to surround the bulged portions 4 in the bases 1 of adjacent units in the same row. In this way a row of closed figures is established, the bases 1 of the units constituting each a common side of adjacent closed units in the same row. The adjacent rows of units are united by the bands 5 which surround the wire at the bulges 4, the construction being such that the eyes 3 engage the portions of the bulges 4 that are continuations of the bases 1 while the bands 5 surround portions of such bulges which are parts of the side members 2. The bands 5 serve to hold the units joined thereby in hinged connection whereby flexibility is permitted-between the units that are joined by the bands, the flexibility being assured since the U-shaped units in each row do not overlie adjacent U-shaped units in adjacent rows but rather are located side by side. the bands 5 hinging adjacent units of adjacent rows so that these adjacent units may be relatively angularly positioned as much as 90 apart. a feature which is essential in many articles of furniture in which this fabric is designed to be used. lVhile the bands are shown as being flatin cross section. the invention is not to be limited to the shape of the bands employed. The bands 5 by being received within the bulges 4 are prevented from being shifted longitudinally upon the side members 2 and the units which are joined by the bands are prevented from slipping longitudinally of the units with respect is each other, the bands which permit the flexibility described also preventing the units united thereby from overlying one another. By means of the bands which have been described, the construction of the portions of the units engaged thereby and also by virtue of the eyes 3 engaging the bulges at, there is produced a very flexible fabric of minimum weight for the strength afforded, the tensile strength of the wire entering into the construction of the units being unimpaired owing to the simplicity of the construction of the units that enter into the fabric make up.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following 1. A wire link fabric including a plurality of adjacent rows of adjacent U-shaped units the units in each row being located side by side with adjacent units of adjacent rows,

adjoining portions of the bases and side members of the units being outwardly bulged while the ends of the sides of said units opposite the bases thereof are formed into eyes the eyes of the side members of the units in each row receiving the bulged port-ions of the bases of adjacent units in the same row; and bands passing about the bulged portions of the side members of adjacent units in adjacent rows and operating hingeably to connect the units joined thereby.

A wire link fabric including a plurality of adjacent rows of adjacent U-shaped units, the units in each row being located side by side with adjacent units of adjacent rows, the ends of the sides of said units opposite the bases thereof being formed into eyes the eyes of the side members of the units in each row receiving the bases of adjacent units in the same row; and bands passing about the side members of adjacent units in adjacent rows and operating hingeably to connect the units joined thereby.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 23rd day of March A. D.

CLARENCE H. FREDERICK. Vitnesses HELEN E. RAIMAN, HANS HOGENSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washingtom'D. O. i 

